The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-05-21
THE RISE OF THE NILE.
Viewed by the Natives with Great
Veneration.


the Nile-A Grand Spectacular.
The Saracens thoroughly subjugated
the Egyptians, and treated them with
more mildness than often falls to the
portion of the vanquished. 1t is said
the conquerors overran the domains of
science as quickly as they overcame the
Kingdoms of their neighbors, and two
centuries after the conquest, the son of
Haroun al Raschid found, in the Valley
of the Nile, the rich fruit of scientific
life. The Arabs dismantled Alexandria
and Memphis, but they built observa-
tories, and, profiting by the astrology
OF the Egyptians, studied the stars, and
gave them names familiar now to every
school-boy. And when the Caliph in
S01 sent to Charlemange, from Bagdad,
the keys of our Saviour's sepulcher, as
pledge of esteem from the commander
of the faithful to the greatest of Chris
tian kings, twas the mingling of sound
policy and delicate compliment, which
yet marks the crafty and courteous
Arab.
The invading army found ruins so ex-
tensive and colossal, that the Arabic
historian concludes the ancient Egyp-
tians were long-lived giants, who were
able to move tremendous blocks of
stone by the use of magic wands.
In the year 63S Memphis was dead
city, infested by robbers, employed by
commercial companies, who searched
the fallen temples and sepulchers for
hidden treasures. The great under
ground vaults, many miles long, es-
capped destruction, but the movable
blocks of marble, the white walls of the
fort, the granite temples of the gods,
were quarries for the builders of the
city, not named Cairo till two hundred
years after its foundations were laid.
And thus vanished Heliopolis, on the
bank Of the river opposite the new cap
ital. The stones were easily transported
when the Nile was in overflow, and the
work was done rapidly and more care
lessly than is usual with Arabic artisans.
AS l said, the pyramids have been
quarries, and have not been blown in
air only because danger to Cairo was
apprehended from so great an explosion.
The face of the sphinx has been
target for Mamelukes through centuries
They hurl their spears and level their
guns at 1.-THE Idol with infinite zest and
vigor. Still do these remains of the
Pharoahs survive, but it is only because
the worshipers of the one God revealed
by Mahomet had not the power or ma
chinery to lay them low. Iconoclasm
should have its limit, and the later
Christian learns that even idols may |
have their uses. At their feet and ON |
their breasts are traced hieroglyphs in
valuable and irreplaceable if lost.
Far up the Nile, near the last rapid.
is curious pagan temple containing
stone tablets with the commandments
OF Kings, and the words of hymns sung
to the Nile on festival nights when the
overflow commences. A massive stone
table of black granite has recently been
discovered, worked into the foundation
OF house of Cairo. 1t is the record un-
injured of pecan devoted to the honor
OF Ptolemy Softer, and in the mosque of
Amrou, most ancient of Egypt, are
numerous pillars, supports of capitals
in Greek. Roman and Byzantine work.
manship. No visitor can fail to notice
the vast number of columns from old
temples employed in the con-
of Moslem sanctuaries. The
loved Cairo always. and
avished untold sums on it, besides the
'ich plumber afforded by the neighbor-
ng cities. II
Amrou in his dispatches described the {
Nile Valley as first desert, then a {
weet water lake, then blooming ,
,arden; the three gradstions given the 6
ountry by the river, without which
here Ii no life. IL
The night Of the seventeenth of June q
known as the night of the drop. From {
he kingdom Of the myths. traditional '
elief comes to our times. that during .
MS night a mystic and magical drop 8
ON heaven falls into the Nile, and u
arts its rising Anciently it was
ar Of Isis. the beautiful goddess with e
mbrosial locks. and 1t fell near her a